Pay cuts coming for Lake County corrections officers

About 180 Lake County jail corrections officers will work a new reduced schedule that'll result in a pay cut starting April 1.

Republican Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran said his decision Monday is expected to save about $370,000 in the first year. He said the schedule change for the corrections officers was part of a package of measures implemented when the new fiscal year began Dec. 1, projected to save $2 million.

Officers last week voted 75 to 70 against accepting the schedule switch projected to result in at least 11 fewer days worked. Curran's plan will have the officers work five days, be off for two, then work another five days followed by three days off. Currently officers work five days, then take two off, repeatedly.

Curran said he was disappointed the union membership did not support his idea on how to save taxpayers' money. The union has 178 members who were eligible to vote.

"We can't bow incessantly to the demands of labor," Curran said Wednesday.

Calls to officers union president Mark Maciejewski for comment were not immediately returned.

Other money-saving efforts include a reduction in overtime hours for court security, reduced training classes to those deemed mandatory, making contract decisions based on the lowest responsible bidder, and reducing the cost of extraditions by using sheriff's office employees instead of outside vendors, among other cuts, according to a news release.

Curran, a Libertyville resident, will face Democrat challenger Douglas Roberts of Beach Park in the November general election. Roberts is a criminal defense attorney who has criticized Curran's management of the sheriff's office.

Curran said he received assistance on the cost-saving measures from Kevin Lyons, the sheriff's office business manager. He said does not expect the measure involving the corrections officers to harm him in the election against Roberts.

"I don't see him as having much of a resume to run on," Curran said of Roberts.

Calls to Roberts for comment were not immediately returned.